Chapter 43: Water Mount Pokémon
After sleeping for twelve hours at the Mimosa Hotel, Victor, now full of energy, headed out to find some food. Alongside him was Incineroar, with Carbink perched on its shoulder.
He arrived at a bustling breakfast market, alive with activity as people and Pokémon moved about.
All around the market, stalls were run collaboratively by humans and Pokémon. A Torkoal skillfully controlled its fire beneath an iron pan, helping the stall owner cook with precise heat.
At the dessert stall, a Alcremie created incredibly sweet cream, assisting an elderly woman in preparing delectable treats.
Meanwhile, a Kadabra deftly used its psychic powers to spin cast iron spatulas at high speed, crafting pancakes with incredible finesse.
Kadabra's operations were so smooth that after the pancakes were baked, the pre-prepared ingredients hovered mid-air, landing perfectly in place on the pancake skin before being neatly wrapped up.
Impressed by Kadabra's skill, Victor guessed it must be a seasoned pro. He decided to try three portions.
"Boss, I'd like three pancakes with egg, ham, and pork tenderloin!"
"Got it! Would you like it spicy?" asked the busy stall owner.
"Yes, please!" Victor replied.
Five minutes later, three steaming hot pancakes came out of the oven. Kadabra used its psychic powers to deliver the bagged pancakes directly into Victor's hands.
As soon as Victor received the pancakes, Incineroar and Carbink, who had been watching eagerly, immediately took their portions and began eating.
Now that Incineroar had evolved, it could walk on two legs, leaving its forelimbs free to hold and eat food. Meanwhile, Carbink used its somewhat clumsy psychic powers to float the pancake in front of its mouth.
Watching the two Pokémon happily digging in, Victor turned his attention to the freshly baked pancake in his hand.
The golden pancake was generously packed with toppings, and its enticing aroma immediately whetted his appetite.
With the first bite, he tasted the slightly spicy sweetness of the noodle sauce, followed by the rich flavors of the egg, crackers, ham, and pork tenderloin.
Victor couldn't stop after that first bite, quickly devouring the entire pancake.
Beside him, Carbink and Incineroar had already finished their portions and were now staring at him expectantly, clearly not yet satisfied.
"Let's try something else. I've heard the seafood in coastal cities is amazing," Victor suggested.
Though the pancakes were delicious, there were plenty of other culinary delights to explore!
Upon hearing this, Carbink and Incineroar gave up the idea of ordering another portion and eagerly anticipated the next dish.
Thus, one man and two Pokémon embarked on a culinary adventure, sampling the delicacies of SeawindCove City.
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After leaving the market and filling their stomachs, Victor, Carbink, and Incineroar headed to the Guardian Saint Monument located in the center of SeawindCove City.
According to Victor's research, legends of mythical and fantasy beasts have left traces in this world. However, in modern times, none of the first-tier gods have been seen again. The Alliance has thoroughly explored the secret realms once inhabited by these mythical beasts but found no sign of them.
While the first-tier gods remain absent, second-tier gods and certain mythical beasts still roam the world, their activities observable in various regions.
The Crimson Alliance venerates three second-tier gods—Suicune, Entei, and Raikou—collectively known as the Phoenix Guards.
In the neighboring Zephyria Country Alliance, the mythical Pokémon Zarude tribe is worshipped. Meanwhile, the Crimson Alliance's rival, the Umbrius Alliance, reveres the three cloud guardians: Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus.
Additionally, the Astralis Kingdom Alliance venerates the three Swords of Justice: Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion. Smaller alliances, however, often lack the protection of sacred beasts.
Beyond these alliances, certain mythical Pokémon, such as Latios and Latias, act as guardians for specific regions without affiliating with any alliance.
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Compared to other cities, SeawindCove City boasts an extensive network of waterways used for transportation. These canals interconnect the city, providing access to most destinations. Rather than taking a boat, Victor decided to try a quintessential seaside city experience: water mount Pokémon.
He arrived at a shop specializing in water mount Pokémon rentals. Inside, a young girl, seemingly not the owner, sat playing games. Victor guessed she was helping her parents manage the store.
"Hello, do you have water mount Pokémon for rent?" Victor asked.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Victor noticed the girl appeared a bit hard of hearing. Repeating his question, he clarified his purpose.
This time, the girl understood. She stood up and replied enthusiastically, "Yes, yes, we specialize in renting water Pokémon! All of our Pokémon are professionally trained and extremely obedient!"
Eager to make a sale, she skillfully began promoting the shop's offerings.
"We have two options: Lapras and Sharpedo.
"Lapras is gentle and ideal for riding, though it isn't very fast. Sharpedo, on the other hand, is more aggressive but has been thoroughly trained in our shop, ensuring it won't attack customers. Plus, it swims much faster!"
"You must be a trainer, right? Both Pokémon have decent combat abilities, making them perfect for riding into the sea to catch Pokémon!"
Victor considered for a moment. He wanted to explore the ocean, even though he had no specific Pokémon in mind to catch.
"I'll rent the Sharpedo for three days," he decided.
"Great! Please show your ID, and we'll register it in the Alliance system," the girl said.
Pokémon mount rentals were a well-established industry. To prepare for potential issues, renters were required to register with the Alliance system before taking a mount Pokémon.
After completing the iris authentication and paying the rental fee, the girl handed Victor the Poké Ball containing the Sharpedo.
At the waterway, Victor released the Sharpedo from its Poké Ball.
Pokémon: Sharpedo
Type: [Water + Dark]
Gender: [♂]
Ability: [Rough Skin]
Level: [30]
Held Item: [None]
Moves: [Omitted]
An elite-level Sharpedo emerged in the waterway, exuding a powerful aura.
Sharpedo resembled a shark, with a sleek blue-and-white body. Its dorsal and ventral fins had two and one notches, respectively. Its red eyes, black gills, and distinctive yellow four-pointed star patterns on its head and tail were its most striking features.
Due to its Rough Skin ability, touching its skin could cause cuts and bleeding. To address this, the Sharpedo wore a special set of protective equipment.
Victor took out a universal water-type energy cube from his pocket and fed it to the Sharpedo.
Sharpedo's red eyes gleamed with excitement. Typically, customers only provided basic Pokémon food, so receiving an energy cube was a rare treat. This was an opportunity Sharpedo didn't want to miss!
"Kaka~" Sharpedo growled, inviting Victor to climb aboard.
Without hesitation, Victor returned Carbink and Incineroar to their Luxury Balls and mounted Sharpedo.
Feeling Victor settle on its back, Sharpedo adjusted its posture slightly in the water. It decided to swim at a moderate pace to ensure the comfort of such a generous customer.
"You can swim faster," came a sudden, unfamiliar voice.
Sharpedo looked around but saw no one speaking.
"I'm on your back," the voice clarified.
Victor was telepathically communicating with Sharpedo using his Aura powers. Unable to detect a speaker, Sharpedo realized the human on its back could communicate directly with it.
Eager to comply, Sharpedo accelerated, propelling itself through the water like a torpedo at the speed Victor had requested.
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